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Monday, May 7, 2012

This is a Life Lesson that I am Learning!

I am sitting on the sofa recovering – I just taught Shelby
how to shave her legs – I think I might cry.

Hair and Make-up for the talent show...when she does wear make-up it will not be this much - at all!

This afternoon Shelby hopped into the car and lifted her arms
to show the drama of her day and that is when I noticed that my baby was definitely
growing into a young woman before my eyes – she had a few small, but very noticeable
hairs under her arms. The dread set in and I asked her if she had noticed that
she had hair on her arm pits. “Oh yeah, big ones” she said “can you show me how
to save them? Can we shave my legs too?”

All I could remember is reading Stephanie Nielson’s blog
once when she talked about her oldest daughter wanted to shave her legs. Her daughter
is the same age as Shelby, but this was a few years ago. I remember Stephanie
saying that it was end of her innocence. This thought played in my head all night and I
kept thinking, “When did I learn? Who taught me?”

On a summer afternoon when I was eight I decided to shave
after watching my mother and possibly my sister since she would have been
eleven. I shaved every hair on my body while sitting in mom’s bathtub including
half of right eyebrow. I walked out of the bathroom feeling all smooth and
grown up, I thought maybe the eyebrow went a little too far – my mom didn’t
shave hers so I little trim was enough.
I remember getting out the car the next day and my Aunt Patti asking
what in the world did I do to my face. I of course said “ummm…I didn’t do
anything” thinking she would actually believe half of my eyebrow just fell off
over night.

So, after reliving that experience in my mind I decided to
buck up and show Shelby how it is done. We first went over the basics – this is
a razor and these are your legs. JAG
decided to put his two cents in like he was a pro at leg shaving. He explained
how the razor is very sharp and a razor cut hurts a thousand times more than a
paper cut – which Shelby cannot stand and cries about all the time.

Shelby and I sat side by side on the edge of the tub with
our pants legs rolled up and soap in hand. I hesitated for a moment took a deep
breath and showed my baby how to shave her legs. I have to tell you the last
ten years and half years flashed before my eyes and I got all kinds of
sentimental. I really should have taken a picture, but I thought looking back
Shelby will think this blog post is cheesy enough. As we lathered and shaved and rinsed the hair
out of our razors Shelby turned to me and said “this is one of those life
lessons I am learning, one of those memories.” All I could say was, “yes it is
baby girl.” Baby Girl – can I call her
that forever please?

You have to understand this comes on the heels of being
ambushed with “the talk” during our great disconnect. I had been putting it off
and putting it off then Shelby asked “What does promiscuous girl mean?” Seems
her friend tried out for the talent show dancing to that song and she didn’t
understand why her friend was told she would have to change songs to be a part
of the talent show. As we discussed it over macaroni and cheese one night JAG
decided it was time to have “the talk.”

I waffled back and forth – I’m not ready, but she needs to
know, but I am not ready, but what if someone else tells her. So again I bucked
up and we had the talk. Shelby took it well and there is much more talking to
do. I want her to know all about the birds and the bees, but not too much. I
also want to make sure she is fully aware of God’s plan and purpose for her and
His wish for how she should behave. I have a lot of work to do – not that
Shelby is showing signs of anything at this point, but I have to be stronger
than society. I have to install things in her that her friends will probably
try to talk her out of – oh man she has a lot to face in the future. I could go
on and on about this topic – my bible study group just spent an entire class
talking about instilling morals into our children and we could have talked for
hours maybe days about this topic.

Ok, Shelby is out of the shower so I probably need to stop writing
this blog it will be embarrassing enough when she is older and reads it –she doesn’t
need that embarrassment now.

1 comment:

This was such a great read! My mother did the same with me. I can't wait to read more of your posts.And by the way, my mother introduced me to new acquaintances as BabyGirl even into my late teens. Between 15-17 years old (roughly), I was so embarrassed and I'd voice my dismay as soon as it arose in conversation. But eventually, I came to truly cherish my little nickname and the close bond we shared. :)